During winter, everything changes – temperatures drop, flowers fade, and your perfume choice should adapt too. With all those layers of clothes, a strong and long-lasting scent is key. So opt for the best winter perfumes packed with intense notes like vanilla, musk, rose, or sandalwood to stay cozy and fragrant in the cold.

To help you pick your perfect winter fragrance, we have our team of experts. We considered everything, from the strong scents of winter flowers to the sweet aroma of Christmas candies, as well as the spicy cinnamon scent of baked cookies to the warm woody fragrance of Patchouli. Keeping all this in mind, we've rigorously tested various products to present our ultimate recommendations for you.

It's the season to swap your breezy summer perfumes for something spicier, tailored to your taste. So scroll to select from our top picks of the best winter fragrances below.

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  Editor's Pick

  Marc Jacobs Lola Eau de Parfum

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This retro-rose-inspired Lola Eau de Parfum from Marc Jacobs is a part of their designer fragrance collection for women that combines spicy sweetness and bitter citrus notes. It opens with top notes of fruity pear, grapefruit, and pink pepper, which merge smoothly with the warm heart notes of peony, geranium, and rose. When we tried it, the fragrance evoked the freshness of a vibrant rose bouquet. The perfume then settles into a rich base of creamy musk, tonka bean, and sweet vanilla, leaving a velvety, sweet finish perfect for chilly winters. While it's a thoroughly modern scent, we feel Lola's charm lies in its vintage glamor, making it a timeless choice.

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Best Clean Fragrance

Lavanila Pure Vanilla The Healthy Fragrance

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Finding a high-quality vanilla fragrance can be quite challenging, but look no further. This Lavanila perfume makes your search easy, giving you a perfect mix of sweetness and warmth, just apt for the cool holiday season. Labeled "The Healthy Fragrance," it not only lacks harmful ingredients but also boasts nourishing antioxidants from Goji berries and calms you with the delightful aroma of pure Madagascar vanilla. Further, this clean perfume contains organic sugarcane alcohol and essential oils, which seamlessly blend with your skin to create a signature scent. We also find the packaging to be simple yet classy, making it a great gift for any special woman you know.

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Best for Date Nights

Guess Seductive Noir Eau de Toilette

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You can experience a delightful blend of all three — citrus, floral, and spice in Guess Seductive Noir. To be precise, it comes with top notes of bergamot, peony, and sage, then middle notes of jasmine, iris, and muguet, and finally ends with dry notes of vetiver, vanilla, and suede. It's not just the fragrance but also the sleek black packaging that adds to its charm. We feel this perfume has a fresh yet spicy smell that's a perfect choice for cozy winter date nights, making you stand out and be remembered. Even a lot of customers seem to feel the same, which is why it's our top pick for romantic evenings.

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Best Woody Aroma

TOKYOMILK Eau de Parfum

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Embrace the warmth this winter season with the smokey and woodsy aroma of TOKYOMILK Eau de Parfum. It features irresistible scents of amber resin, blood orange, patchouli, and oak bark, giving a lavish scent that’s unforgettable. Plus, the perfume bottle looks eye-catching with its elegant black design. It can be sprayed on the neck, pulse points, and wrists to indulge in a cozy and warm aroma. 

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Best Paraben-free Formula

Clean Beauty Collective Clean Classic Warm Cotton

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Experience the cozy evenings of the winter season with this warm cotton perfume from Clean Beauty Collective. It has vibrant and comforting top notes of citrus and verbena, followed by refreshing floral cotton accord, marine, orange flower, and fruity middle notes. Further, musk and amber fragrances add a subtle touch of luxury to the perfume, creating a captivating fragrance perfect to celebrate the winter season. Get it now to evoke the warm feelings of a cozy evening and slay with style wherever you go.

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Best Cozy Fragrance

Burberry My Black Parfum

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Picture a stormy day with heavy rain and cold weather, where warm, delightful flowers stand out. That's the essence of this Burberry perfume. Perfumer Francis Kurkdjian created this fragrance to capture the feeling of a London garden in a storm. Thus, it combines the scent of sun-kissed jasmine, peach, and a touch of rose. The heart of this perfume is the signature rose note, which ends with a deep amber patchouli aroma to add richness. This concoction is packed in a classy amber bottle with a black gabardine knot inspired by Burberry trench coat buttons. Needless to say, we were truly impressed by the craftsmanship behind this chic bottle of long-lasting perfume.

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Best Strong Fragrance

Swiss Arabian Private Musk

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When it comes to Arabian perfumes, they are known for their powerful and captivating scents. The Swiss Arabian's Private Musk is one such that's inspired by cherished memories to add warmth to your winter evenings. This concentrated perfume oil unfolds on your skin with saffron, orange flowers, and jasmine top notes, blending into sweet caramel and candy floss mid-notes. It then finishes with a smooth white amber and earthy oakmoss scent, giving you a feeling of a golden sunset even in chilly winters. We also liked how this unisex fragrance comes in a convenient 12ml rollerball packaging, making it user-friendly.

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Best Vegan Choice

Wild Spirit First Snow Eau De Parfum Spray

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This winter is the perfect time to treat yourself to the spicy and bold scent of Wild Spirit’s First Snow Eau de Parfum Spray. This perfume typically starts with the top notes of juniper berries, black pepper, lemon verbena, and bergamot. Then, it disperses into a warm fragrance with white birch, guaiac wood, and creamy Bushman's candle, which are the heart notes. As time goes on, it transforms into an aromatic blend of coconut water, sandalwood, warm amber, and vanilla. This is a complex blend of fragrances in a single bottle. We also love how clean it is, with all-natural ingredients and no harsh chemicals.

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Best Premium Smell

Halle By Halle Berry Eau De Parfum

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Halle Berry fans have a reason to rejoice as the Oscar-winning Hollywood actress has introduced her own signature fragrance line. This Halle by Halle Berry perfume offers a blend of woody oriental fragrances, enveloping you in femininity. Perfect for fall and winter, this musky perfume features top notes of fig, pear, and bergamot, transitioning to spicy floral mid-notes of mimosa, hibiscus, and freesia. It then culminates in a warm, woody aroma of cashmere musk, sandalwood, amber, driftwood, and olibanum. Despite the variety of aromas, it's not overpowering, making it ideal for casual use. In fact, it's one of our favorite scents among celebrity fragrances.

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Best Sillage

Hermès Caleche Eau De Toilette

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This luxurious perfume by Hermès Paris was made back in 1961 and is their first women's fragrance. It's named 'Caleche' after the chic 19th-century horse carriages, which perfectly match the brand's elegance. You might think it's old-fashioned, but trust us, we've tested it, and the scent is truly timeless and suits everyone, regardless of age. It has the modern touch of aldehyde and citrus in the top notes, flowing into a floral heart note with ylang-ylang, rose, and jasmine. This finally completes with a woody, chypre base featuring the elegant scent of the iris. It's a classic in our opinion, and we hope you love it too.

Choosing a winter perfume is just like picking one for any other season — it should be something you love and want to wear all day. It can be anything from being mysterious and secretive to being flirty and fun. It all depends on your personal style. However, when it comes to selecting the perfect scent, there are essential factors to consider, and our experts are here to guide you with top recommendations from the fragrance industry.

1. Go Heavy

Your winter fragrance shouldn't smell like beach perfumes with fresh citrus or bright floral notes. Usually, cold weather makes scents fade quickly, so go for richer, heavier fragrances that stay on your skin longer. Opt for fragrances with depth, such as spicy florals with woody notes or gourmand scents like vanilla, all anchored by a base of musk, for an alluring scent. A great option that combines these elements is Wild Spirit First Snow Eau De Parfum Spray.

2. Pay Attention to Notes

In winter, dry skin can cause the top notes of perfume to dissipate faster. So instead of focusing on the top notes, shift your attention to the heart and base notes, which are crucial in the winter. Base notes, in particular, are the foundation of a fragrance and linger longer. Look for scents with base notes like patchouli, amber, and sandalwood, as they are common in winter perfumes. For such strong base notes, Burberry My Black Parfum is a great choice.

3. Consider Denser Scents

Picking the right type of fragrance is also crucial during winter occasions. In colder months, consider denser scents. Typically, Eau de Toilette is denser than Eau de Cologne, and Eau de Parfum is denser than Eau de Toilette. So, prioritize perfumes like Marc Jacobs Lola Eau de Parfum for a winter-ready fragrance.

4. Intended Use

When choosing an amazing winter fragrance, think about when you'll wear it. It matters whether it's for a full day or a special evening or to create a festive vibe. In general, rich and warm perfumes like Lavanila Pure Vanilla The Healthy Fragrance are perfect for date nights, while long-lasting ones like Hermes Caleche Eau De Toilette work well for all-day wear.